An inquest into the deaths of a married couple whose house caught fire in Cork city in April has heard calls for more to be done to prevent similar tragedies.
83-year-old John O’Donnell and his 75-year-old wife Gabrielle died on the fourth of April last in their home on Lower Glanmire Road.
Coroner Dr Mary McCaffrey heard the couple were celebrating the birth of their first grandchild at their home, which was equipped with several smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
A fireplace and gas stove were providing heat and candles had been lit on a table in the room earlier.
Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said John O’Donnell had died of a sudden heart attack before the fire started, while Gabrielle died from smoke inhalation.
The coroner said society can do a lot more to prevent further tragedies such as the fire and commended the actions of Alan Lyne, a passerby who first noticed the flames while driving down Lower Glanmire Rd.
He contacted emergency services within a minute of stopping and knocked on the doors of neighbouring houses to warn them of the fire.
A formal recommendation will be issued by the coroner’s court in due course.
